Ashley Williams has revealed how Swansea passed their derby test because they did their homework.

Mr Swansea himself, new head coach Garry Monk, compiled a DVD of the Swans’ recent history for his players to watch before this showdown with arch-rivals Cardiff.

Monk wanted his squad to understand how hard the Swans have worked over the last decade to rise from League Two to the top flight and Capital One Cup glory.

The 34-year-old defender has been a key part of that remarkable journey since “walking through those rusty old gates at the Vetch Field”, as he puts it, and is determined the next chapter in their incredible story will not be relegation.

After Saturday's 3-0 win , Williams says his former defensive partner’s DVD helped galvanise players who had lost their way under Michael Laudrup.

“We had a bit of homework,” said the Swans skipper. “I watched it and it helped me. I’ve been here for six years and I found out some stuff I didn’t know, which helps you respect the place a bit more. That’s important.

“Garry knows the club. He is someone, who has been involved for so long and for myself and Leon Britton, we have all built it up.

“We feel we have built it to a level and we do not want to see it go so quickly.”

“I’m not saying anything against Michael and the way it was, but because of the results for so long, we got stuck in a bit of a rut,” said Williams. “It wasn’t anyone’s fault, it just happened.

“Garry has come in and he’s set us up really well in training. We have all enjoyed it. It has freshened it up.”

Whereas Swansea could pass teams to death with no end product under Laudrup, there was an intensity to their play in the second half here.

And they blew Cardiff away in the gusty conditions to register only their second league win in 11 games.

Monk’s introduction of Pablo Hernandez at half-time changed the game and the scintillating Spaniard created the first for Routledge within 80 seconds.

Although Craig Bellamy hit the bar for the visitors, Swansea were in control and Nathan Dyer capitalised on awful defending to head the second on 79 minutes before Wilfried Bony nodded in the third five minutes from time.

For Monk, it was the dream start to his managerial career, making those sleepless nights since Tuesday well worth it.

“I haven’t slept for four days!” he smiled. “I went from having a cushy little job of two or three hours a day to full-blown management.